Folding poultry-coop



(Model.)

1?. E. GOLDSMITH.

FOLDING POULTRY COOP.

ted Tunelil 1 &84.

Inventor x m. M M y 1 I I Attorney UNITED Srnrns Parent FREDERICK E. GOLDSMITH, OF JAOKSOXBORO UGH, OHIO.

FOLDING POULTRY-COOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 300,595, dated June 1'7, 1884,

(Model) 2'0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK E. GoLn- SMITH, of J acksonborongh, Butler county, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Poultry-Coops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to that class of poultry-coops intended to fold into a small oompass for empty shipment and storage. It relates to an arrangement of parts adapted to permit the top and sides and endsof the coop to fold compactly into a shallow bottom tray -and there to be looked, as hereinafter fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side view of a structure embodying my improvements, portions being I shown in section and other portions being broken away; Fig. 2, a plan of the structure; Fig. 3, an end view of parts, showing the arrangement of tray, top, and folding sides;

Fig. 4, an end view at one of the lower cor-,

ncrs of the tray, showing the device for looking the structure in eitherits erected or knockdown position.

In the drawings, A. represents a shallow-bot tom tray, forming the bottom of the coop when the coop is erected for use, and forming the packing-case when the coop is knocked down B, the bottom of the tray; 0, the end pieces of the tray; D, the side pieces of the tray 5 E, the end pieces of the coop, hinged upon the bottom of the tray, so as to be capable of folding down flat upon the bottom of the tray; F, the hinge by which the end pieces of the coop are attached to the bottom of the tray 1 G, tenons at the top of the end pieces of the coop; H, the sides of the coop, hinged to the bottom of the tray and adapted to fold down flat into the tray on top of the end pieces after they have been folded down; I, tenons at the top of the coop-sides; J, the hinges by which the coop-sides are attached to the tray; K, the top of the coop; L, inortises in the top of the coop adapted to receive the l.)efore-1nentioned tonons of the ends and sides; M, tie'bars pivoted at each end corner of the top of the coop and reaching downward to engage the locking device on the tray, and serving to prevent the top from lifting; N, the pivots by which the tie-bars are attached to the ends of the top of the coop, these pivots being provided with shouldered heads, for purposes hereinafter mentioned; 0, pivots in the ends of the coopsides and engaged by the tie-bars, as shown in Fig. 3; I outward projections upon the lower ends of the tie-bars; Q, locking-springs sccured to the inner surfaces of the end pieces of the tray, and arranged to naturally spring toward the coop ends and engage over the pro jections P of the tie-bars; t, springs secured to the top of the tray ends and arranged with a tendency to press downward; S, downward projections or hooks from the inner faces of the ends of the springs R, serving to catch over the springs Q, and hold those springs out of engagement with the locking device; T, the usual sliding doors or gates in the top of the coop; U, slots in the tie-bars engaging the pivots O.

W'hen the coop is erected for use, the tenons of the ends and sides of the coop fit into the mortises of the top of the coop, and the springs Q, engage over the projections I of the tie-bars and prevents the top of the coop from rising and'disengaging the tenons. In this condition the coop is to be used.

hen the coop is to be knocked down, the springs R are to be raised, the springs Q pulled backward out of engagement with'the tie-bars, and the springs B allowed to fall with their hooks engaging over the springs Q, so as to lock the springs Q out of action. In this condition the top of the coop may be lifted free from the tenons. The end pieces are then folded downward upon the bottom of the tray, after which the side pieces are folded inward, both at the same time. As the side pieces fold inward and downward the top of the coop is drawn downward by the tie-bars, which assume first an inclined position, as shown in Fig. 3, and finally a horizontal position when the side pieces are closely down upon the end pieces and the top of the coop closely down upon the side pieces. In this position no part of the structure projects above the rim of the shallow tray. The springs R are then lifted and the springs Q, fly inward and engage over the shouldered heads of the pivots N, whereby the structure is firmly locked in its kn ockeddown position.

The slots U, working in conjunction with the pivots 0, enable the tie-burs to conform to 2. The combination, with the elements of 10 and aid in the regulation of the folding 1110- claim 1, of the hook-springs R, arranged to tion. 7 engage the locking-springs Q, substantially as I claim as my inventio11 i and for the purpose set forth. 1. The combination of tray A, hinged coop- FREDERICK E GOLDSMITH ends E, hinged coop-sides H, mortised cooptop K, pivoted tie-bars M, andloeking-springs WVitnesses:

Q, substantially as and for the purpose set J. W. SEE, forth. L. A. HULL. 

